Oonya Kempadoo facts for kids

Oonya Kempadoo was born in 1966 in the United Kingdom. Her parents were from Guyana, and her father, Peter Kempadoo, was also a writer. Oonya Kempadoo is a well-known novelist. She has written three popular books: Buxton Spice (1998), Tide Running (2001), and All Decent Animals (2013). She won the Casa de las Americas Literary Prize for her writing.

About Oonya Kempadoo

Oonya Kempadoo was born in Sussex, England. When she was five years old, she moved to Guyana and grew up there. Her family background includes Indian, African, Scottish, and Amerindian roots.

She later studied art in Amsterdam. Oonya Kempadoo has lived in several Caribbean countries, including Trinidad, St. Lucia, and Tobago. Today, she lives in St. George's, Grenada.

Her Books and Awards

Oonya Kempadoo started writing seriously in 1997. Her first novel, Buxton Spice, came out in 1998. This book tells a story about growing up in the countryside. It shares some of her own life experiences. The New York Times newspaper called it "superb, and superbly written."

Her second book, Tide Running, was published in 2001. This story is set in Plymouth, Tobago. It follows the lives of two young brothers, Cliff and Ossie. Tide Running won the Casa de las Americas Literary Prize. This award is given for the best novel written in English or Creole.

Both Buxton Spice and Tide Running were nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award. Buxton Spice was nominated in 2000, and Tide Running in 2003.

In 2011, Oonya Kempadoo took part in a special writing program. It was called the International Writing Program's Fall Residency. This program took place at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, USA.

Judges for the Orange Prize (a famous literary award) called her a "Great Talent for the Twenty-First Century." Her book Naniki was also considered for the Governor General's Award for English-language fiction in 2024.